Somehow, despite all these film festivals, the Chaplin Diary, and Blu-rays, I've still found time to just go to the movies (or watch them at home). Here are five, listed from best to worst. A- The Death of Stalin (2017), Shattuck Few historical deaths can create as much merriment. Once their General Secretary is dead, the … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Death of Stalin, I, Tonya, A Night at the Opera, The Little Foxes, & Thoughts That Once We Had
Louis Malle Noir: My Blu-ray review of Elevator to the Gallows
You don't expect film noir from Louis Malle. But his first narrative feature, Elevator to the Gallows, is as dark, suspenseful, and entertaining as the best crime dramas that ever came out of Hollywood. Criterion released this excellent thriller in February. Made in France in 1957 (it was released in '58), the complex yet tightly-told … Continue reading Louis Malle Noir: My Blu-ray review of Elevator to the Gallows
What’s Screening: March 16 – 22
Frightened rabbits, frightened executives, and people with a good reason to be frightened because they're not white males. And they're all on Bay Area screens this week. Also, two film festivals. Festivals The Albany Filmfest opens Saturday and runs through the week and beyond The Sonoma International Film Festival opens Wednesday and runs into the … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 16 – 22
California and Japan clash in Oh Lucy!
A- Comedic drama Written by Atsuko Hirayanagi, from the short film by Boris Frumin and Atsuko Hirayanagi Directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi In Tokyo, a middle-aged woman lives a life of quiet desperation. Then she attends a class in American English and finds herself attracted to her outgoing and handsome teacher. When the teacher suddenly and … Continue reading California and Japan clash in Oh Lucy!
This year’s San Francisco International Film Festival announced
Get ready for a massive injection of cinema. The 61st San Francisco International Film Festival opens April 4 and closes two weeks later on April 17. And you know what that means? For the third year in a row, the SFilm Fest conflicts with Passover. You would think that someone would check a Jewish calendar. The … Continue reading This year’s San Francisco International Film Festival announced
Blu-ray review: A Trip to the Moon in many colors and musical scores
Why would anyone spend up to $40 (MSRP; you can buy it for less) for a Blu-ray of a movie that runs only 15 minutes? There are several good reasons. George Méliès' A Trip to the Moon is not only a fun and imaginative entertainment; it's also one of the most important motion pictures ever … Continue reading Blu-ray review: A Trip to the Moon in many colors and musical scores
Chaplin Diary, Part 8: Early First National
Charlie Chaplin's contract with First National turned him from an employee to an independent contractor. He built his own studio, hired his own employees, and financed his own films. First National just handled distribution. Chaplin was required to produce eight movies of two reels or more, over the course the 18 months. It took him … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, Part 8: Early First National
What’s Screening: March 9 – 15
A fish-man double bill, a Thanksgiving dinner of boiled shoe, the smiling children of North Korea, a brilliant inventor disguised as a movie star, the absence of God, and two film festivals grace Bay Area movie theaters this week. Festivals CineQuest is still going on in the south bay, and continues through this week and … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 9 – 15
Sacred: Religion from birth to death
B+ Documentary Directed by Thomas Lennon How and why do people practice their religions? And how do these religions effect their followers' lives? Thomas Lennon sent some 40 camera crews all over the world to find out. There are no great revelations in this documentary, but it creates a dream-like, meditative state, while allowing you … Continue reading Sacred: Religion from birth to death
Bombshell: Brains and the curse of beauty
B+ biographical documentary Directed by Alexandra Dean Hollywood movie star Hedy Lemarr had a fascinating life, but not a happy one. Her striking beauty won her fame and fortune (neither of which she held onto), but it obscured her more important work as an inventor. Her greatest invention, something most of us use daily, never … Continue reading Bombshell: Brains and the curse of beauty
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